The series on Bible study continues with the emphasis on interpreting the Bible in its own context. The context we’re discussing is the world of the ancient Near East (with respect to the OT) and the Second Temple period with respect to the NT. Interpreting the Bible in these contexts means thinking like a person living at these times. The best way to do that is to immerse yourself in the worldview of the civilizations of these eras with which the biblical writers had regular contact. That is accomplished by immersion in the written sources of these civilizations. The last episode of the podcast dealt with the need to tap into the written material of the ANE since that is the context for the OT. In this episode we’ll turn attention to the NT context, the Second temple period (6th century BC-1st century AD). As in the last episode, all print and online sources I mention in the podcast are found (with links) at the “Bibliography and Resources” tab here on the podcast website.
Ancient Texts in English Translation: Second Temple Period of Judaism (5th century BC – 1st century AD)
Books:
Old Testament Apocrypha
King James Version of the Apocrypha
digital version
The New Oxford Annotated Apocrypha: New Revised Standard Version
digital version
R.H. Charles’ edition: The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament: Apocrypha
digital version (Logos has Charles’ Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha in one set)
New Testament Apocrypha (less relevant, as these come from after the apostolic period):
one-volume edition of M. R. James: The New Testament Apocrypha
two-volume scholarly compendium by Schneemelcher
New Testament Apocrypha, Vol. 1: Gospels and Related Writings Revised Edition
New Testament Apocrypha, Vol. 2: Writings Relating to the Apostles Apocalypses and Related Subjects
Old Testament Pseudepigrapha
- H. Charles’ edition: The Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament, Pseudepigrapha
digital version (Logos has Charles’ Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha in one set)
James H. Charleworth’s two-volume edition (with introductions to each book): The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha ( 2 Volume set)
digital version
Dead Sea Scrolls (non-biblical texts)
Wise, Abegg, & Cook: The Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation
digital version
Geza Vermes: The Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English (Penguin Classics)
Garcia-Martinez: The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated: The Qumran Texts in English
digital version (English translations are included in the two volume Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition, which also has the Hebrew texts)
Dead Sea Scrolls (the biblical scrolls in the Hebrew Bible, in English translation)
Abegg, Ulrich, Flint: The Dead Sea Scrolls Bible: The Oldest Known Bible Translated for the First Time into English
digital version
Josephus
Whiston edition: The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged, New Updated Edition
digital version
Paul Maier: The New Complete Works of Josephus
Philo
Yonge, updated by Scholer: The Works of Philo
digital version
Websites (free material, but dated translations from old, public domain sources)
Old Testament Apocrypha
Sacred Texts Archive
Biblos / Apocrypha.org
Pseudepigrapha.com (includes links to OT Apocrypha)
Old Testament Pseudepigrapha
Sacred Texts archive (labels the Pseudepigrapha “other apocrypha”)
New Testament Apocrypha
Philo
Josephus
